Generally speaking, tenured faculty have preference over probationary faculty, but such preference is seldom absolute. If a tenured faculty member and a probationary faculty member teach exactly the same subjects, then the tenured faculty member must usually be given preference. However, if there is a surplus of teachers in one discipline and a scarcity in another, a tenured faculty member in the one might be let go and a probationary faculty member in the other might be retained.